Early Autism Testing
for Toddlers (18 months to 4 years)

If you’ve noticed differences in the way your child talks, plays, or connects with others—or if your pediatrician has raised concerns—an autism evaluation can give you answers. Our specialists in Evanston, Deerfield, Naperville, and Arlington Heights provide clarity and peace of mind for families across Chicagoland.

No. In fact, earlier is better. Autism can often be identified by age 2, and research shows that starting intervention at a young age leads to stronger long-term outcomes. That’s why our Early Autism Testing Clinic focuses on children under 4.

Not always. Many families contact North Shore Pediatric Therapy directly to schedule. If your insurance company requires a referral, our team will walk you through that process.

We specialize in early autism evaluations for toddlers and preschoolers (up to age 4). For older children through age 18, our neuropsychologists provide full evaluations covering autism, ADHD, learning disorders, and other developmental or emotional concerns.

Every child develops differently, but some early red flags may include: limited eye contact, delays in speech, repetitive movements, or not responding when their name is called. You can explore more details using our diagnostic evaluation tool.

Beyond autism, our neuropsychological testing covers a wide range of concerns including ADHD, anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, and learning differences. We also assess cognitive skills, memory, language, problem-solving, executive functioning, and emotional regulation.

EI is an excellent start, but it doesn’t provide a formal diagnosis. To access services like ABA therapy, insurance coverage, or school accommodations, your child will still need a medical diagnosis.

Not necessarily. Schools use their own criteria to determine eligibility for special education under “autism,” but that’s different from a clinical diagnosis. For insurance and outside services, you’ll need an evaluation from a licensed psychologist or developmental pediatrician.

No. While a BCBA may use tools like the ADOS to screen for autism traits, only neuropsychologists, developmental pediatricians, or licensed clinical psychologists can make a formal diagnosis.

Typically no. Most insurance providers require a diagnosis from a licensed psychologist or physician to approve ABA therapy or other therapy services.

Not at all. Those records are helpful. A comprehensive evaluation simply pulls everything together to give you the documentation and access you need for services.

Absolutely. Many families combine both. EI provides early support, and our private evaluation ensures your child has what they need for school planning, insurance coverage, and future services.

The most valuable step is a formal autism evaluation with a licensed neuropsychologist. It provides the clearest path forward and opens doors to a full range of supports.

Our intake team is here to listen, answer questions, and guide you toward the right decision. Call us anytime to talk through your concerns.

For children ages 18 months to 5 years, we usually have openings within 2–3 weeks at our centers in Evanston, Deerfield, Arlington Heights, and Naperville.

Scheduling depends on whether your child needs a half-day or full-day of testing:

Half-day is typically scheduled 1–2 months out. Full-day is usually 3–4 months out. Our intake team can guide you toward the right test for your child. Call us anytime to talk through your concerns.

For children ages 18 months to 5 years, we conduct autimssm testing in Evanston, Deerfield, Arlington Heights, and Naperville.

For other evaluations or older children, evaluations are done in our Des Plaines center.

Most of the time, yes. We work with many major insurance providers and confirm your benefits before the appointment. We’ll also provide you with billing codes if you want to check with your insurance company directly.

We offer private pay options and will review those with you during your intake call.

The visit starts with a discussion about your child’s history with one of our neuropsychologists. After that, our team uses play-based tools such as the ADOS-2 to observe your child’s interactions. At the end, you’ll meet with the doctor to review results and get recommendations.

Our neuropsychologists use gold-standard tools like the ADOS-2, combine them with developmental history and direct observation, and align everything with DSM-5 guidelines.

Yes. While early autism testing appointments focus only on autism, our broader neuropsychological evaluations cover learning, emotional, behavioral, and attention concerns in children through age 18.

You’ll meet with your neuropsychologist the same day to review initial results and recommendations. A full written report will be delivered within 3–4 weeks.

Feedback sessions are scheduled 2–3 weeks after testing. The complete written report is typically finalized within 4–5 weeks.

We’ll walk you through next steps—whether that’s ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or working with your pediatrician. Our team will make sure you know your options.

Even without a diagnosis, an evaluation can highlight areas where your child may need extra support—at school, at home, or in therapy.

Yes. Every family receives a detailed written report summarizing your child’s strengths, needs, and recommendations. You can share this with schools, doctors, and therapists.

Yes. Because our autism testing clinic operates within North Shore Pediatric Therapy, you’ll have access to ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and mental health services at more than 12 Chicagoland locations.